Episode 8 🥋 Tatiana | World #1 in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – The Dangerous Woman in the Valley
Chopping It Up with Keith Saarloos · Released August 16, 2025 · Santa Ynez Valley, California
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About this conversation
In this episode of Chopping It Up, Keith sits down with Tatiana—a woman many of us know from morning coffee runs at Good Seed, but few realize is also ranked #1 in the world in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Masters 6, Purple Belt).
Tatiana started training less than four years ago, stepping onto the mat during the pandemic with no martial arts background. Since then, she’s dedicated herself to competition and climbed to the top of her division, proving that age, timing, or circumstance don’t limit what’s possible.
We talk about her journey from Solvang newcomer to world-class competitor, what it feels like to step into the largest Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Las Vegas with 12,000 competitors, the unique community and camaraderie of the sport, and how learning to defend yourself can transform your confidence and mindset.
This is more than a story about fighting—it’s about resilience, flow, community, and starting something new no matter where you are in life.
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Saarloos + Sons archive host Keith Saarloos. Context photograph; not a portrait of the guest or a photograph of this recording.
